Ring

ABSTRACT

The first portion (P 1 ) of the band ( 1 ) of the ring ( 10 ) has the first ditch portion ( 2 ) into which the first stone ( 4 ) that is a diamond is fitted. On the other hand, the second portion (P 2 ), which faces the first portion (P 1 ), has the second ditch portion ( 3 ) into which the second stone ( 5 ) that is a blue sapphire or the like is fitted. In the first usage pattern of the ring ( 10 ), the ring ( 10 ) is worn so that the first stone ( 4 ) is on the back of the hand. In this condition, the second stone ( 5 ) on the palm side does not come in contact with any part of the hand. The second usage pattern where the second stone ( 5 ) is on the back of the hand is realized by rotating the band  1  approximately half-turn. Thus, the single ring can be used in two different ways without making the wearer feel a sense of incongruity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to rings represented by fashionrings including wedding rings and initial-engraved rings, and morespecifically, to those referred to as “two way rings”.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] In the recent wedding ring market, rings with a diamond fittedinto the outer surface and a blue sapphire fitted into the inner surfaceof their band are commercialized (referred to as the first prior art).These rings have become popular because the tradition that wearingsomething blue at your wedding will bring you a happy life has come tobe widely known, so that it is desirable for women to have a weddingring with a blue sapphire in it.

[0005] From the same viewpoint, rings with a diamond and another stonesuch as a blue sapphire near the diamond on the outer surface of theirband have been introduced to the jewelry market (referred to as thesecond prior art).

[0006] However, the first prior art has a problem that the blue sapphireis not seen while the ring is worn. It must be more desirable for womenthat the blue sapphire is also seen, and the first prior art does notmatch the psychology of women. As another problem, the first prior artdoes not satisfy wearers' demands to use a diamond or a blue sapphire inaccordance with their moods.

[0007] On the other hand, the second prior art does not have thedrawback that the blue sapphire is not seen; however, the same as thefirst prior art, it fails to meet the wearers' demands to use thediamond or the blue sapphire to suit the occasion.

[0008] These problems are not only true of wedding rings, but also forother fashion rings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The first aspect of the present invention is directed to a ringcomprising a band consisting essentially of a first portion, a secondportion facing the first portion, and a third portion and a fourthportion each being between the first portion and the second portion, thefirst portion having a first ditch portion formed from an outer surfacethereof toward an inside thereof, the second portion having a secondditch portion formed from the outer surface thereof toward the insidethereof, the first ditch portion and the second ditch portion facingeach other; a first stone fitted into the first ditch portion and asecond stone which differs in material from the first stone and isfitted into the second ditch portion, wherein an exposed outer surfaceof the first stone does not jut from the first ditch portion, an exposedouter surface of the second stone does not jut from the second ditchportion, and the third portion and the fourth portion do not have anyditch portion and any stone arranged therein.

[0010] The second aspect of the present invention is directed to a ringcomprising a band consisting essentially of a first portion, a secondportion facing the first portion, and a third portion and a fourthportion each being between the first portion and the second portion, thefirst portion having a first ditch portion formed from an outer surfacethereof toward the inside thereof, the second portion having a pluralityof second ditch portions formed from the outer surface thereof towardthe inside thereof and arranged separately from each other along theouter surface of the second portion; and a stone fitted into the firstditch portion, wherein an exposed outer surface of the stone does notjut from the first ditch portion, the plurality of second ditch portionsform a person's initials recognized when the plurality of second ditchportions are seen from above, and the third portion and the fourthportion do not have any ditch portion and any stone arranged therein.

[0011] The present invention has been contrived in order to overcomethese problems, and has an object of providing a ring which can be usedin two different manners and has such a structure as not to make thewearer feel a sense of incongruity while she wears it.

[0012] These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is the vertical cross sectional view of the ring of a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a plane view of the ring shown in FIG. 1 when the ringis seen from the first direction;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a plane view of the ring shown in FIG. 1 when the ringis seen from the second direction;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a plane view of the back of the hand when the ring shownin FIG. 1 is put on the ring finger of the left hand according to thefirst usage pattern;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a plane view of the back of the hand when the ring shownin FIG. 1 is put on the ring finger of the left hand according to thesecond usage pattern;

[0018]FIG. 6 is the vertical cross sectional view of the ring of asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 7 is a plane view of the ring shown in FIG. 6 when the ringis seen from the second direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] (First Preferred Embodiment)

[0021]FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross sectional view of the ring 10of the present preferred embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are the planeviews of the ring 10 when the ring 10 is seen from a first direction D1and a second direction D2, respectively, indicated in FIG. 1. Aninventor of the present invention refers to the ring 10 having thestructure shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 as a “two way ring”. The structureof the ring 10 will be described as follows with reference to FIGS. 1through 3.

[0022] The ring 10 is roughly composed of a band 1, a first stone 4 suchas a diamond, and a second stone 5 such as a blue sapphire, whichdiffers in material from the first stone 4.

[0023] The band 1 is a main body of the ring having an outer surface 6and an inner surface 7 having a common curvature center PO. A firstportion P1, which is a part of the band 1, has a first ditch portion, ora first hollow portion 2 formed from the outer surface 6 toward aninside of the inner surface 7. The first ditch portion 2 has such adepth as to fit the first stone 4 thereinto.

[0024] The band 1 also has a second portion P2 which entirely faces thefirst portion P1 with the curvature center PO therebetween, and thesecond portion P2 has a second ditch portion, or a second hollow portion3 formed from the outer surface 6 toward an inside of the inner surface7. Consequently, the bottom surface of the first ditch portion 2 and thebottom surface of the second ditch portion 3 throughout face each other.The second ditch portion 3 has such a depth as to fit the second stone 5thereinto. In the present example, a first central axis A1 whichconnects the center of the bottom surface of the first ditch portion 2and the curvature center P0 and a second central axis A2 which connectsthe center of the bottom surface of the second ditch portion 3 and thecurvature center P0 cross each other at an angle θ of about 180°.

[0025] Between the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 are athird portion P3 and a fourth portion P4 which connect these portions P1and P2 and have no ditch portions and stones in them. In other words, noditch portions and stones are arranged on the portions other than thefirst portion P1 and second portion P2 of the band 1.

[0026] The first stone 4 is fitted into and pressed by the first ditchportion 2 so as to be fixed therein. An exposed outer surface 40S of thefirst stone 4 does not jut from the first ditch portion 2. In otherwords, the outer surface 4OS does not jut above a curvature surface (itscurvature center is the point PO) which has an edge portion 2E of thefirst ditch portion 2 as its periphery.

[0027] Similarly, the second stone 5 is fitted into and pressed by thesecond ditch portion 3 so as to be fixed therein. An exposed outersurface 5OS of the second stone 5 does not jut from the second ditchportion 3. In other words, the outer surface 5OS does not jut above acurvature surface (its curvature center is the point PO) which has anedge portion 3E of the second hollow portion 3 as its periphery.

[0028] With the above-described structure, when the ring 10 is seen fromthe first direction D1, the outer surface 4OS of the first stone 4 onlyis seen as shown in FIG. 2. In contrast, when the ring 10 is seen fromthe second direction D2, the outer surface 5OS of the second stone 5only is seen as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a plane view of the back of the hand when the ring 10shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is put on the ring finger of the left handaccording to a first usage pattern. In this usage pattern, the wearerand other people can only see the first stone 4 fitted into the outersurface 6 of the band 1, and cannot see the second stone 5 at all. Inaddition, the second stone 5, which does not jut above the outer surface6 of the band 1 and is on the palm side (on the other side of the firststone 4) in the first usage pattern, does not come in contact with otherparts of the ring finger when the ring finger is folded, and with otherparts of the wearer's body. Consequently, the wearer does not feel asense of incongruity in spite of the presence of the second stone 5 onthe palm side, and feels as if she were wearing a ring with only thefirst stone 4 fitted into the outer surface 6 of the band 1.Furthermore, the wearer can trick other people into seeing as if shewere wearing a ring with only the first stone 4 fitted into the outersurface 6 of the band 1.

[0030] The following is a description of the second usage pattern of thering 10, that is, when the wearer rotates the band 1 of the ring 10approximately half-turn from the first usage pattern as shown in FIG. 4so that the first stone 4 is on the palm side. The plane view of theback of the hand in the second usage pattern is shown in FIG. 5. Asshown in FIG. 5, in the second usage pattern, the wearer and otherpeople can only see the second stone 5 fitted into the outer surface 6of the band 1, and cannot see the first stone 4 at all. In addition, thefirst stone 4, which is on the palm side in the second usage pattern anddoes not jut above the outer surface 6 of the band 1, does not come incontact with other parts of the ring finger when the ring finger isfolded, and with other parts of the wearer's body. Consequently, thewearer does not feel a sense of incongruity in spite of the presence ofthe first stone 4 on the palm side, and feels as if she were wearinganother ring with only the second stone 5 fitted into the outer surface6 of the band 1. Furthermore, the wearer can trick other people intoseeing as if she were wearing another ring with only the second stone 5fitted into the outer surface 6 of the band 1.

[0031] Thus, the ring 10 has the functions: (i) merely rotating the band1 approximately half-turn provides two kinds of use and (ii) in thefirst and second usage patterns, the wearer feels no concern for thepresence of the stone on the palm side, or can enjoy each usage patternwithout feeling a sense of incongruity. Due to these functions, thewearer can free and easily select the respective of the first and thesecond usage patterns depending on her mood and the wearer can easilyselect one of the first and second usage patterns depending on hercloth, or the occasion. Furthermore, it is economical that there is nonecessity of separately purchasing two rings. In addition, due to theabove function (i) of the ring 10, the wearer can trick other peopleinto thinking that she has two different rings in spite of actuallyhaving only one ring.

[0032] (A Modified Example of First Preferred Embodiment)

[0033] (1) In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first portion P1 and thesecond portion P2, or the first ditch portion 2 and the second ditchportion 3 entirely face each other, however, the first portion P1 andthe second portion P2, or the first ditch portion 2 and the second ditchportion 3 could face each other only in parts. It is essential only thatthe first portion P1 and second portion P2, or the first ditch portion 2and second ditch portion 3 in the first usage pattern and the secondusage pattern are so arranged that the stone on the palm side is unseenfrom the back of the hand. As long as the stone on the palm side isunseen from the back of the hand in the first usage pattern or thesecond usage pattern, it is not essential for the first portion P1 andthe second portion P2, or the first ditch portion 2 and the second ditchportion 3 to “face each other”.

[0034] (2) The vertical cross sections of the first ditch portion 2 andthe second ditch portion 3 are not necessarily U-shaped as shown in FIG.1; the vertical cross sections of the first ditch portion 2 and thesecond ditch portion 3 could be any shape. For example, the first ditchportion 2 and second ditch portion 3 can be formed so as to make thevertical cross sections of the first ditch portion 2 and the secondditch portion 3 triangular.

[0035] (3) It is not necessary that the first portion P1 and the secondportion P2 of the band 1 shown in FIG. 1 have the same degree ofthickness; the thickness of each of the portions P1 and P2 has only tobe set at a value which allows the formation of the corresponding ditchportion.

[0036] (4) It is not necessary that the outer surface 6 and the innersurface 7 of the band 1 shown in FIG. 1 have the same curvature center,and it is not necessary either that the band 1 have a uniform degree ofthickness.

[0037] (5) The structure shown in FIG. 1 can be applied to a fashionring.

[0038] (6) In order to fix either one or both of the first stone 4 andthe second stone 5, an adhesive can be used.

[0039] (7) The first stone 4 and the second stone 5 can be eithernatural stones or artificial stones.

[0040] (8) “The second stone 5, which differs in material from the firststone 4” can be a stone of the same kind and with a different color. Forexample, the first stone 4 may be a blue sapphire and the second stone 5may be a light green-yellow sapphire. As another case, the first stone 4may be a diamond, and the second stone 5 may be either a ruby or anemerald.

[0041] (Second Preferred Embodiment)

[0042]FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross sectional view of a ring 20of the present preferred embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the plane view of thering 20 when the ring 20 is seen from the second direction D2 as shownin FIG. 6. The plane view of the ring 20 when the ring 20 is seen fromthe first direction D1 shown in FIG. 6 is identical to FIG. 2. Theinventor of the present invention refers to the ring 20 having thestructure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as a “two way ring” or a “two-in-onering”. The structure of the ring 20 will be described as follows withreference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0043] The ring 20 is roughly composed of a band 1A and a stone 9 suchas a diamond.

[0044] The band 1A is the main body of the ring having an outer surface6 and an inner surface 7 having a common curvature center PO. The band1A has a first portion P1 in which a first ditch portion, or a firsthollow portion 2 is formed from the outer surface 6 of the first portionP1 toward an inside of the inner surface 7 thereof. The depth of thefirst ditch portion 2 is so set as to make the stone 9 be just fittedinto the first ditch portion 2.

[0045] The band 1A also has a second portion P2 which entirely faces thefirst portion P1, with the curvature center PO therebetween. The secondportion P2 has a plurality of second ditch portions, or second hollowportions 8 (81, 82, 83) formed from the outer surface 6 of the secondportion P2 toward an inside of the inner surface 7 thereof in such amanner as to be serially arranged separately from each other along theouter surface 6. The second ditch portions 81, 82, and 83 are set to beas deep as or a little shallower than the first ditch portion 2. Thus,the plurality of second ditch portions 8 (81, 82, 83) are not hallmarks.The bottom surface of the first ditch portion 2 and the bottom surfaceof each second ditch portion 8 face each other.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of second ditch portions 8 areso formed that the wearer's initials are read when the plurality ofsecond ditch portions 8 are seen from above. For example, in FIG. 7, thesecond ditch portions 81, 82, and 83 form “M”, “•”, and “K”,respectively, of the wearer's initials.

[0047] Between the first portion P1 and the second portion P2 are athird portion P3 and a fourth portion P4 which connect these portions P1and P2 and have no ditch portions, initials, and stones in them. Inother words, no ditch portions, initials, and stones are arranged on theportions other than the first portion P1 and second portion P2 of theband 1A.

[0048] The following is a description of the first usage pattern of thering 20 having the above structure. The first usage pattern correspondsto FIG. 4. To be more specific, in the first usage pattern, the wearerand other people can only see the stone 9 fitted into the band 1A, andcannot see the initials. In addition, the initials, which are on thepalm side in the first usage pattern, are merely composed of theplurality of second ditch portions 8, so that even if the initials comein contact with other parts of the ring finger when the ring finger isfolded, or with other parts of the wearer's body, the wearer does notfeel a sense of incongruity at all, and feels as if she were wearing aring with only the stone 9 fitted into the outer surface 6 of the band1A. Furthermore, the wearer can trick other people into seeing as if shewere wearing a ring with only the stone 9 fitted into the outer surface6 of the band 1A.

[0049] On the other hand, in the second usage pattern where the ring 20put on a finger according to the first usage pattern is rotatedhalf-turn, the wearer and other people can only see the initialsengraved as the ditch portion in the outer surface 6 of the band 1A, andcannot see the stone 9 at all. In addition, the stone 9 which is on thepalm side in the second usage pattern and does not jut above the outersurface 6 of the band 1A, does not come in contact with other parts ofthe ring finger of the left hand when the ring finger is folded, andwith other parts of the wearer's body. Consequently, the wearer does notfeel a sense of incongruity at all in spite of the presence of the stone9 on the palm side, and feels as if she were wearing another ring withonly the initials composed of the plurality of second ditch portions 8formed on the outer surface 6 of the band 1A, that is, initial-engravedring. Furthermore, the wearer can trick other people into seeing as ifshe were wearing another ring with only the initials engraved as theditch portion in the outer surface 6 of the band 1A (initial-engravedring).

[0050] Thus, the ring 20 has the functions: (i) merely rotating the bandIA approximately half-turn provides two kinds of use: a wedding ring andan initial-engraved ring and (ii) in the first usage pattern (as awedding ring) and the second usage pattern (as an initial-engravedring), respectively, the wearer feels no concern for the presence of theinitials or the stone on the palm side, or can enjoy each usage patternwithout feeling a sense of incongruity. Due to these functions, thewearer can free and easily, select the respective of the first and thesecond usage pattern depending on her mood and the wearer can easilyselect one of the first and second usage patterns depending on hercloth, or the occasion. Furthermore, it is economical that there is nonecessity of separately purchasing two rings. In addition, due to theabove function (i) of the ring 20, the wearer can trick other peopleinto thinking that she has two different rings in spite of actuallyhaving only one ring.

[0051] As the stone 9, a sapphire, a ruby, or an emerald can be usedinstead of a diamond.

[0052] The idea of each of the modified examples (1) through (7) of thefirst preferred embodiment holds true for the modified examples of thepresent preferred embodiment (the ideas of the modified examples (6) and(7) of the first preferred embodiment hold true only about the stone 9).

[0053] Each ring of the first and second preferred embodiments has theeffects: (i) allowing single ring to be used in two different ways and(ii) making the wearer enjoy each usage pattern without a sense ofincongruity at all.

[0054] While the invention has been shown and described in detail, theforegoing description is in all aspects illustrative and notrestrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous othermodifications and variations can be devised without departing from thescope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ring comprising: a band consisting essentiallyof a first portion, a second portion facing said first portion, and athird portion and a fourth portion each being between said first portionand said second portion, said first portion having a first ditch portionformed from an outer surface thereof toward an inside thereof, saidsecond portion having a second ditch portion formed from the outersurface thereof toward an inside thereof, said first ditch portion andsaid second ditch portion facing each other; a first stone fitted intosaid first ditch portion; and a second stone which differs in materialfrom said first stone and is fitted into said second ditch portion,wherein an exposed outer surface of said first stone does not jut fromsaid first ditch portion, an exposed outer surface of said second stonedoes not jut from said second ditch portion, and said third portion andsaid fourth portion do not have any ditch portion and any stone arrangedtherein.
 2. The ring according to claim 1, wherein said first ditchportion and said second ditch portion are so arranged that when saidring is put on any of the fingers excluding the thumb and the littlefinger in such a manner that said outer surface of said first stone ison the back of the hand, said outer surface of said second stone is onthe palm side and not seen from the back of said hand, and that whensaid ring is put on said any of the fingers in such a manner that saidouter surface of said second stone is on the back of said hand, saidouter surface of said first stone is on said palm side and not seen fromsaid back of the hand.
 3. The ring according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst stone is a diamond.
 4. The ring according to claim 3, wherein saidsecond stone is a sapphire.
 5. The ring according to claim 3, whereinsaid second stone is a ruby.
 6. The ring according to claim 3, whereinsaid second stone is an emerald.
 7. A ring comprising: a band consistingessentially of a first portion, a second portion facing said firstportion, and a third portion and a fourth portion each being betweensaid first portion and said second portion, said first portion having afirst ditch portion formed from an outer surface thereof toward aninside thereof, said second portion having a plurality of second ditchportions formed from the outer surface thereof toward an inside thereofand arranged separately from each other along said outer surface of saidsecond portion; and a stone fitted into said first ditch portion,wherein an exposed outer surface of said stone does not jut from saidfirst ditch portion, said plurality of second ditch portions form aperson's initials recognized when seen from above, and said thirdportion and said fourth portion do not have any ditch portion and anystone arranged therein.
 8. The ring according to claim 7, wherein saidfirst ditch portion and said plurality of second ditch portions are soarranged that when said ring is put on any of the fingers excluding thethumb and the little finger in such a manner that said outer surface ofsaid stone is on the back of the hand, said initials are on the palmside and not seen from said back of the hand, and that when said ring isput on said any of the fingers in such a manner that said initials areon said back of the hand, said outer surface of said stone is on saidpalm side and not seen from said back of the hand.
 9. The ring accordingto claim 7, wherein said stone is a diamond.
 10. The ring according toclaim 7, wherein said stone is a sapphire.
 11. The ring according toclaim 7, wherein said stone is a ruby.
 12. The ring according to claim7, wherein said stone is an emerald.
 13. A ring comprising: a bandcomprising a first portion, a second portion facing said first portion,and a third portion and a fourth portion each being between said firstportion and said second portion, said band having a first ditch portionformed from an outer surface of said first portion toward an inside ofsaid first portion; and a second ditch portion formed from an outersurface of said second portion toward an inside of said second portion,said second ditch portion facing said first ditch portion; a first stonefitted into said first ditch portion; and a second stone which differsin material from said first stone and is fitted into said second ditchportion, wherein said third portion and said fourth portion do not haveany ditch portion and any stone arranged therein.
 14. The ring accordingto claim 13, wherein an exposed outer surface of at least one of saidfirst stone and said second stone does not jut from the correspondingditch portion of said first ditch portion and said second ditch portion.15. The ring according to claim 14, wherein an exposed outer surface ofsaid first stone does not jut from said first ditch portion; and anexposed outer surface of said second stone does not jut from said secondditch portion.